Improvement in heels



'i thnted www @anni l WILLIAM T.'DOWNS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Lamm' raamt No. 88,461, mama/rch 3o, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEELS.

`'.lllle Schedule refer-red to in these -Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whoml it may concer-a:

Be it known that LWILLIAM T. DOWNS, of St. Louis, in the county of St, Louis, and State of Missouri, have made certain newand useful Improvements. in Boot, Shoe, or Gaiter-Heels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a. full and clear description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

It is well known that in the Wear and tear of boots, shoes, or gaiters, the heel isgenerally cnt down, and its lower, or bearingsurfaoe, er tread, is 'Worn to a slant, or bevel, occasioned by the gait, or manner of walking of the wearer.

It is alsoy apparent that when the heel is oncevvorn to a-bevelled tread, the boot, shoe, or gaiter is twisted, and that part of the sole under the heel of the foot, the so-called counter, is especially strained, whereby the sole is frequently disconnected from the vupper leather, and a general destruction of the boot or shoe hastened.'

ing greater uniformity of Wear.

To enable those herein skilled to make and use mysaid invention, I will now more fully describe'thesame, referring, herein, to

Figure l as a bottom, or sole plan; to

Figure 2 as a plan ofthe heel-cap; and to Figure 3 as a general'elevation.

`I construct the boot,` shoe, or gaiter A, of ordinary forms and materials, adapting the same to the wearer', in the manner usual.

The heel, however, I form of'two parts, the one part, B, being permanently secured to thesole and .uppers of theboot or Shoe, in the usual mannerand the adjustable part, @,vihic-h is formed and connected in the manner now to be described.

Said heel-cap 0 will beformed usually of a body of sole or other leather', C1, and metallic plates G2, said plates being securely attached to the body Cl by tacks, nails, or pegs c.

' 'lhe upper plate will be perforated by holes d, for engagement of proper pins, or studs, D, to be secured in the part B of the heel.' -Said pins D will `thus prevent theY heel-cap G from lateral play when properly placed under the heel-piece B.

In order to secure the cap C to the heel-piece B, I arrange the heel-screw E, having a proper lodgment in the -body G, and being so placed that the head shall abut rmly against the under side of the plate G2.

The threads of' said screw E engage with the nut F, which is rmly secured in the heel-piece B. In this Wise, by the screw E and nut F, a firm connection of said parts is eli'ected,the pins D, at the same time, preventing dislodgment, or loosening under the blows received in ordinary wear.

One or more screws E may be used, and the material thereof .may be brass or iron, or similar metal.

It is plain that after the heel-cap O has been worn t a be'velled tread, that then, by removing and transferring the one cap to the other heel, tliewearer will thus be enabled to economize, and wear to a greater uniformity, the heel-treads, and thus stiain and, wear and tear upon other parts of the boot, shoe, or gaiter', will be avoided.-

The nnt F may be secured in the heel-piece B by a metallic' plate, G, Vwhich should be properly covered with leather, so as to avoid contact with the plate G2,

and prevent rattlingv or jar, besides insuring a better t.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim, is The retaining-plate G, the unt F, screw E, mortises d, and pins D, when arranged with the heel-piece B, the plate G2, and cap C, .substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness of said invention, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence ofv WM. T. DOWNS. Witnesses:

WM. W. HERTHEL, ROBERT BURNS. 

